The human cost of war is measured in lives lost and families displaced. However, a growing body of evidence from international organizations points to another, more enduring casualty: the environment. From the rubble-strewn landscape of Gaza to the fire-scorched lands of Lebanon and the industrial sites of Iran, military actions are unleashing long-term ecological disasters that poison the land, water, and air, threatening the foundation of life itself long after the fighting stops.
Gaza: An Unprecedented Environmental Collapse: In the Gaza Strip, the scale of environmental damage is so severe that experts are describing it as unprecedented.
A Toxic Tide of Rubble: The conflict has generated an estimated 50 to 61 million tons of debris, much of which contains hazardous materials like asbestos, unexploded ordnance, and human remains. The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) warns that clearing this rubble could take up to 14 years and poses a severe risk of contaminating soil and groundwater.
Systemic Water Contamination: The destruction of water and sanitation infrastructure has led to a catastrophic water crisis. With 85% of water facilities inoperable, over 100,000 cubic meters of raw or poorly treated sewage are being discharged into the Mediterranean Sea every day, polluting the coastline and the aquifer. This has left over 90% of Gaza’s water unfit for human consumption, creating a breeding ground for waterborne diseases.
Deliberate Destruction of Agriculture: Satellite data shows that the conflict has destroyed or damaged approximately 80% of Gaza’s tree cover, including thousands of olive trees, and over two-thirds of its cropland. This systematic destruction of farmland and orchards has not only wiped out food sovereignty but also stripped the land of its natural defenses against desertification.
A Massive Climate Footprint: The climate cost of the war is substantial. A study shared with The Guardian found that the long-term carbon footprint of the first 15 months of the conflict, including future reconstruction, could exceed 31 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent – more than the annual emissions of many individual countries.
A Regional Pattern of Environmental Damage: The environmental devastation wrought by conflict is a silent, enduring crisis that extends far beyond the headlines from Gaza. A chilling pattern of ecological degradation is emerging across the region, where military actions are triggering environmental catastrophes that will poison the land, air, and water for generations. This is not merely collateral damage; it is a form of ecocide that undermines the very foundations of life and recovery.
Lebanon: A Landscape Scorched and Poisoned: Israeli military operations have inflicted profound ecological wounds on Lebanon. The use of incendiary weapons, including documented white phosphorus munitions, has transformed southern Lebanon into a tinderbox. Satellite imagery reveals a staggering 10,800 hectares reduced to ash in 2024 alone – an area four times the size of Beirut. This isn’t just burned land; it is the deliberate incineration of prime farmland and ancient forests, crippling local food security and biodiversity. The crisis extends to the sea: a single attack on the Jiyeh power plant in July 2024 resulted in a 10,000-ton oil spill, creating a suffocating marine disaster that threatens the entire Mediterranean coastline. The land is scorched, and the sea is poisoned.
Syria: The Obliteration of Natural Heritage and the Specter of Permanent Contamination: In Syria, the environmental cost is measured in both total loss and lasting peril. The Quneitra Governorate reported the “complete destruction” of the Kodna Forest, a 40-year-old natural treasure spanning 186 hectares. The calculated environmental damages exceed $100 million, but the true loss of a restored ecosystem is incalculable.
Excerpted: ‘The Silent Victim: Warfare’s Enduring Environmental Scars Across the Middle East’.
Courtesy: Counterpunch.org